2025-26 Commonwealth Collegiate Rankings #10-#6 : Week 0 (8-20-2025)

By: Joe Dillard Jr.

Headline Photo Credit: Darrell Owens-LMS Network

Entering the famous Week 0 of the college football season we have no idea of what to expect from the teams this season, however, we will look at some interesting factors that will give us somewhat of a clue but ultimately with no games played anybody can make their case for the best team in the state. With the second year of providing this, we will start with the final rankings from last year which had a VMI program on the outside looking in and will need to be competitive to stay in the rankings as they are division I and that has credit but as you saw last year it can only go so far.  As they kick off with Navy on the road, we only want to see them compete for four quarters and they will have a fair shake when they come back home to host Ferrum College, and should learn a lot about themselves in the first two weeks.  

Another team that finished outside the CCR Top 10 was Norfolk State and I am sure that with the hiring of Michael Vick expectations will be very high in Norfolk. The first two games are at home and could set them up for a huge match-up traveling to Rutgers for the third game.  Towson will come into an environment I’m sure they are not familiar with as the support for coach Vick will be deep out there.  The Labor Day Classic against Virginia State is a flat-out rivalry regardless of scores but usually a Division II team is the underdog against a Division I opponent.  Hampton who finished honorable mention, comes in with the first two games that they could and should win with CIAA opponent Elizabeth City State as the first game at home and then on the road to face a struggling North Carolina A&T program that was at the bottom of the CAA. 2-0 is the goal for the Pirates.

Coming in at #10 at the end of the season was Old Dominion who was the definition of “Harvey Dent” the famous 2 face character in the batman series as they came out the gate struggling and had to fight themselves back into a respectable finish within the conference however, we will see if that late surge carries over into this season.  They open with Indiana on the road and again this is a game where you ask the boys to compete for four quarters, and this will have us ready for the second opponent North Carolina Central which is a game where they should dominate and get to play deep into the roster.  This is important as they travel to Blacksburg to face off in an important in-state match-up.    

Coming in at #9 is UVA as they could not get hot at all last year running two in a row and not winning the important third or big game when needed.  We will see how things kick off as they start with Coastal Carolina at home only to face North Carolina State on the road in week two for a non-conference scheduled game.  With William and Mary waiting in the third slot could we possibly be talking a 3-0 start?  

In the eighth spot is Virginia State who made a great run at Virginia Union to dethrone the champs by winning the regular season title, but the championship eventually went up 95 north to Virginia Union.  This season they start off traveling to Barton College and if they can survive, they will have a high-profile game against the Michael Vick-led Norfolk State Spartans.  2-0 will have everyone forgetting they are Division II. 

Coming in at #7 is the Hokies of Virginia Tech and they are the dark horse of the state and if they succeed this season, it may be all about the in-state recruiting that the Hokies have seemed to win over their rival UVA.  Either they are auditioning for a slot in the SEC, or they just wanted the chance to have powerful wins on the non-conference schedule which could be huge if they go 2-0.  The problem is South Carolina is ranked #13 in the nation and either it could be a dog walk, or the Hokies will have tremendous momentum heading back home to face Vanderbilt.  The Hokies will play in the Aflac Kickoff Game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 31.  

William and Mary come in at #6 and with the culture growing in Williamsburg, one can only wonder what if the Tribe had their way?   Two tough games out of the gate with Furman on the road and then hosting a scrappy Maine team, (who by the way knows how to recruit in the state of Virginia) will have the Tribe in a prime position to take on the Hoos in Charlottesville for a huge in-state game if the Tribe gets those first two wins. Tune in next week for the CCR Top 5teams and what to expect from them this season as we prepare for this season of football.  Who do you think will be the best team in the state this season?  

Season Openers

VMI at Navy August 30

Norfolk State vs Towson August 28

Hampton vs. Elizabeth City State August 30

ODU at Indiana August 30

UVA vs. Coastal Carolina August 30

Virginia State at Barton College August 28

Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina August 31

William and Mary at Furman August 30